Ranking the BCS Conferences for 2011

After another dominating performance put together on New Year's, it is safe to say the SEC is not going to fall apart anytime soon. On top of that, the SEC won yet another BCS National Championship and are seeking their six straight title.

So, is the SEC still the cream of the crop? If so, which conference will come out of nowhere to shock the nation in crucial non-conference games? Remember, I am ranking the conferences I believe will be the best for the 2011 season and not the previous five seasons. I appreciate all comments and/or explanations as to why your conference is the best!

Let's get this party started and let the great debate begin on which conferences are the best in America!

SEC

The SEC is the best conference in America, and it is not even that close. Whether you eat, drink, sleep SEC football for 365 days a year or just absolutely cannot stand the conference, you need to know this: domination!

Winning a BCS National Championship is not an easy thing to dream about let alone achieve. Five straight BCS Championships and seven since the BCS started in 1998 is the most by a landslide.

Only the Big 12 is even close with two, and they are the only conference that has more than one legitimate title. People always ask how or why the SEC is so dominant? Are there any facts backing this up? Yes and yes!

First off, I try to look at every single component when deciding which conference is the best, second and so on.

Besides winning BCS National Championships, I look at where the top recruits are headed to every single year, and eventually, I look at how many of those recruits panned out and make an NFL roster.

This past NFL Draft marked a fifth consecutive season in which the SEC led all conferences in players selected, with 38. In 2010, the SEC held the all-time record with 49 picks! Let it be known that the coaching staffs and fanbases are beyond amazing in the SEC as well.

From a recruiting standpoint, all the top players out of high school go play ball in the SEC, and the numbers make it seem outlandish. According to the team rankings at rivals.com, there were nine teams ranked just in the top 25 alone! The next closest was the Pac 12 with five, and the ACC had four.

Also, if you look at the final polls of the season since 1998, (BCS inaugural season), the SEC has had the most ranked teams in the Top 25 nine out of the 13 seasons. This season is no different, as there are already seven ranked teams in the USA Today Coaches Poll. 

With the overall history such as the prestigious programs, legendary stadiums, players, championships and legendary coaches, it makes it easy to understand why the SEC is still the best conference in America!  

Big Ten

The new addition of the Nebraska Cornhuskers gives the slightest of edges at number two. The "Children of the Corn" have one of the best defenses in the nation, and they also return their star QB Taylor Martinez.

Following the Huskers figures to be the Wisconsin Badgers, who have had a ton of success in recent memory. However, it was just the third time they reached the BCS, and it was the first time since 2000 (Rose Bowl).

Michigan State is coming off an 11-2 season, whereas their big brothers in Ann Arbor return nearly their entire roster from a season where they went 7-6. Plus, the move of hiring Brady Hoke could put them back into a New Year's Day Bowl sooner rather than later. I have failed to mention the team that has gone to more BCS Bowls than any other school in the nation!

The Ohio State Buckeyes had an albatross of an offseason (not a Buckeye homer or hater, but let's just leave it at that) and are essentially starting from scratch. Their schedule is brutal this season, and this may be the first time in quite some time where they may not have the players to win nine or more games.

The Iowa Hawkeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions are always underrated when they are not ranked in the preseason. Both possess solid defenses this season, and as always, they have tremendous running attacks thanks in large part to their outstanding coaching staffs.

Northwestern and Purdue look to go bowling this season with both of their QB's returning as well as some crucial players on both sides of the ball. Northwestern has the makings of eventually becoming a legit nine or 10 win team. 

Illinois is coming off a bowl win and a solid seven win season; however, it will be tough for them to return to a bowl game.

Indiana and Minnesota may continue to struggle for a few more years, but they have some history on their side to eventually return to contention for a division crown. 

ACC

We are still awaiting the return of ACC football, as they just have two BCS victories since the system began back in 1998-1999!

Florida State defeated Virginia Tech in the 2000 BCS National Championship when the Hokies were still a part of the Big East. Since then, FSU has lost five straight BCS Bowls, and the Hokies are just 1-3. 

The Miami Hurricanes came in with a bunch of swagger after dominating the Big East, but they have been complete busts since joining the ACC back in 2004.The Canes are just 30-26 in ACC play, which makes it that much worse for Miami nation.

Miami needs to have a solid 6-2 campaign and at least a nine win season in order for the ACC to stay third on my watch. Plus, the loss of former Miami coach and former North Carolina coach may dash yet another season in Chapel Hill.

Can the Heels rebound? They are loaded on defense with NFL talent in the front four, but they lack true experience at QB with the loss of TJ Yates. Their schedule is very favorable, though, and if history continues, then they will beat Miami at home since the 'Canes have NEVER won in Chapel Hill (0-4).

Maryland, Boston College and NCST all have solid squads, but lack the offensive skill players in order to win more than eight games.

Georgia Tech and Clemson will look to play dark horse, as I foresee the Clemson Tigers playing that role. Their division (Coastal) is a bit easier plus they get the Auburn Tigers at home in the third week of the season. A victory there and perhaps they can get rolling for Dabo Swinney. Remember, the Tigers just brought in a top 10 recruiting class, so the cupboard is far from bare.

Wake Forest, Duke and Virginia are interesting teams because all three have a ton of their players back (as usual), and I look for one of them to go bowling (probably won't be WF).

The third Saturday in September will be the calling card for the ACC. Last year, they were embarrassed once again on a national stage, as FSU was spanked by OU and Miami and Clemson let a few games slip away as well.

Not that the SEC or Big Ten has gotten worse or anything, but Auburn and Ohio State are not looking strong by any means, and the 'Noles are ranked in the preseason top five for the first time since 2004!

Big 12

With the loss of Nebraska and Colorado, I have dropped the newly looked Big 12 down a few spots to where we are not accustomed to seeing them at.

Texas and Oklahoma have had their BCS Championships in dominating or dramatic fashions and both are still premier programs.

Plus, Texas's "Longhorn Network" has already received a ton of publicity since ESPN/Texas are expected to make a bundle off of it (will help program in more ways than one). Give the 'Horns a few years and they will probably be back in the top 10 again. As far as those Boomer Sooners are concerned, they are doing just fine, as they open the season as the No. 1 team in the nation.

Texas A&M and Oklahoma State are both legit top 10 teams this year, at least early on in the season. If the defenses rise to the occasion, I could easily see one of these two make an appearance in a BCS Bowl since they have exceptional offenses.

Missouri is my under the radar team for a second year in a row, as they have a bevy of playmakers on offense and they are very physical and athletic on defense. Big 12 country should remember the name Brad Madison, as he was a nightmare defensive end one season ago.

Baylor and Texas Tech are two high powered offenses that will not go away quietly. Robert Griffin is among the most electrifying athletes in the game, and if they can find a way to either knock off TCU in the opener or beat the Longhorns again, his Bears will be a lock for another bowl game this season. 

Kansas State, Kansas and Iowa State are still a year or more away from contending for a bowl, but they have had their fair share of bowl games. The Jayhawks actually appeared in the 2008 BCS Orange Bowl and they ended up defeating Virginia Tech. The talk in Manhattan is about the return of Bill Snyder, who has turned K-State around once again ('Cats went 7-6 and lost the Pinstripe Bowl last year). 

PAC 12

It was just a few seasons ago where I had the USC Trojans on top of the world, and it was the Pac 10 that I had as the second best conference in America. Amazing how sports can change in a blink of an eye.

The Trojans have been gashed with a ton of recruiting penalties and team violations that have taken away their 2004-2005 BCS National Championship and their 2006 Heisman Trophy. Did I mention they cannot play in the Pac 12 Championship in its inaugural season of the re-alignment or go to a bowl game for a second consecutive season?

USC may never be dominant like they were under Carroll, but they can still be a relevant top 25 team every season under Lane Kiffin. The torch was handed over to Oregon two seasons ago when the Trojans walked into a nightmare on Halloween night.

The last two seasons, Oregon has beaten up on USC by a total score of 100-52! Also, coming off a National Championship loss should only get the Ducks fired up more about the upcoming season. An opener with LSU will tell us a whole lot about both teams.

Jim Harbaugh is gone in Palo Alto, but David Shaw has done a great job as the OC the past four seasons. A tougher schedule could be difficult, but the Cardinal still look like a top 20 team thanks in large part to Andrew Luck coming back for redshirt junior season.

Arizona State and Dennis Erickson always disappoint, but without being ranked and without high expectations, the Sun Devils could pitch a fork in some opponents hearts this year. Vontaze Burfict is an All-American due to his hard-hitting, highlight reel tackles.

The Devils main rivals are the Arizona Wildcats, who look like quite the team at the skill positions. However, no returning OL and a fairly green defense will make life even more difficult for Mike Stoops. 

Utah and Colorado are the new kids on the block, and they are not exactly getting treated fairly out of the gates. Poor Ralphie has one of the toughest schedules in America, and it may be tough for Colorado to win more than a few games all season. The Utes will go bowling, but it may be asking too much for them to reach the Pac 12 Championship with their schedule.

The middle of the Pac 12 has been solid in years past, but I just don't see it for this season. Cal is renovating their new stadium and will be forced to play their home games where the San Francisco Giants play (AT&T Park). Plus, they play the USC Trojans on a Thursday night in October, which could be a scheduling conflict if the Giants make it to the playoffs.

UCLA and Oregon State are coming off losing seasons and do not have the firepower on either side of the ball to make themselves a lock as far as making a bowl game this season. I like the Beavers chances the best, with Ryan Katz back alongside a solid receiving core led by Markus Wheaton and James Rodgers.

The battle for the Apple Cup is a rivalry game I never miss, especially after last year's debacle where the Cougars gave up a GW TD pass from Jake Locker in the waning moments. The Cougars have been among the worst BCS programs the past five years; however, they are making improvements and are no longer a pushover. UW has a ton of talent returning at Steve Sarkisian's disposal, and it is just a matter of time before they start becoming conference contenders.

Big East

Last but certainly least is the Big East. They may own the sport of college basketball, but they sure do take their lumps in college football. Never before has a Big East Champion become BCS National Champions, and the only time they appeared in the BCS National Championship was way back in 2000, when the Virginia Tech Hokies were smoked by the Florida State Seminoles 46-29!

So, how bad is the Big East going to be this upcoming season? Not as bad as it may seem, but no ranked team in the USA Today Coaches Poll only means that there is no legit, impressive program in the entire conference. 

The top notch players out of high school are not choosing schools out East. They stay within the West coast, the South/Southwest and even the Midwest. It would help the Big East out if there were more storied programs joining the conference.

TCU joins in 2012, so I ask, who is next? Would Boise State dramatically improve the conference if they ever joined? Many coaches in the Big East have not been able to keep their jobs because of the struggles that these teams have had. It is hard to make a pitch to high school kids to come play for your program when coaches are consistently moving to other schools or getting fired even.

Not to compare the Big East to the SEC by any means, but let's do just that for a moment. Entering the 2011 season, there is only one coach in the entire Big East that is returning for their fourth year or more, and that is Greg Schiano at Rutgers (11). The SEC has six coaches who are now going into their fourth year or more.

Point being, it is impossible to just develop your program into a national powerhouse within a few seasons. It takes time to develop, recruit and land the players you need for your own system. 

Overall, the Big East took a tumble when Rich Rodriguez left for West Virginia, and they will continue to stay at the bottom of the BCS conferences until they get a top ten nationally respectable team that starts eating up the big boys at the grown-up table.